“In this way they’re not just dropped off and left to their own devices.

“We’ve had some very positive responses to Universal Credit. Now we can still continue to support people, and the support system is still there.

“I’m a supporter of Universal Credit and it’s the general feeling amongst staff.

“Things take time to bed in, but the more people that come on to it, the easier it gets.

David Morris, MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale, also welcomed the figures.

He said: “It is fantastic that the long term economic plan is working in Morecambe and Lunesdale.

“The number of people who are unemployed is continuing to fall and it is in part due to the hard work of the staff at Morecambe Job Centre who work with employers and assist people back into work, who I meet regularly with.

“The more people in gainful employment the more investment there will be in an area and with that comes a real chance of regeneration.”

The government’s employment Minister Priti Patel said: “Today’s figures confirm that our long-term economic plan is already starting to deliver a better, more prosperous future for the whole of the country, with wages rising, more people finding jobs and more women in work than ever before.

“As the Government for working people, we want to go further and create one nation that is based on security and opportunity.

“With the North West seeing the largest annual private sector employment rise of any UK region, we will continue to help businesses create jobs and support those who want to work hard and get on as part of our ambition to achieve full employment.”